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LIT 2010-01

American Literature from 1865 to Present

Spring 2008

Instructor: Lori Cinotte

Office: B-320

Phone number: 815-224-0289

E-mail: lori_cinotte@ivcc.edu

Office hours: 9-10 a.m. MWF; 9-11 a.m. TR; 1:45-2:15 p.m. R

Meeting times and location: Class will meet from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in B-312

TEXTS

Baym, et al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter 7^th ed. New York : Norton, 2008.

Lynch, Rose Marie and Kimberly Radek. IVCC Style Book.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises.

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The course is intended to introduce the student to the range and variety, the quantity and quality of American Literature – and the themes that run through it – from the middle of the 19^th century up to the present time. Since literature does not exist in a vacuum, cultural and historical relationships will be sought as well.

EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES
1.  Outcomes that address IVCC general education goals.

a.        Students will read with understanding and appreciation and respond to what they have read.

2. Course outcomes:

a.       Students will read and understand literature by the major authors of American literature, from the Civil War to the present, appreciating the contributions and influences of those writers.

b.      Students will analyze and discuss modern American literature, understanding and appreciating important themes and concerns of the writers, in a variety of genres, and understanding how those genres influenced the later writings

c.       Students will appreciate the range, quality, and diversity of style in modern American Literature.

d.      Students will examine the interrelation between society and literature, understanding how cultural, political, and philosophical movements affected and were affected by literature, and vice versa, especially explaining the relevance, importance, and relation of major themes to the literary, social, historical, and philosophical forces that influence the production and reading of literature.

e.       Students will become familiar with various critical approaches to literature and understand how various critical approaches enhance the ability to analyze and interpret literature.

f.        Students will continue to develop the ability to write thoughtful, well-written college-level essays that respond to and analyze literary works, integrating their own thoughts with those of others.

g.       Students will come to a larger understanding of what it means to be American.

h.       Students will collaborate effectively in groups.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

Students are expected to have read the assignments, participate in group discussion, answer questions on study sheets and discuss elements of the works with the instructor. Students also should work to integrate their knowledge of American history with the literary canon of the time.

Students are expected to be prepared for tests and quizzes that cover the assigned material.

Students are expected to write interpretation, response and research essays in response to the readings.

Students are expected to participate in group projects relating to the authors and the time periods during which they wrote.

ASSESSMENT MEASURES

Course work that is not submitted will receive a 0, not an F. Final course grades and essay grades will be calculated using the following scale: 90-100 percent = A, 80-89 percent = B, 70-79 percent = C, 60-69 percent = D, 0-59 percent =F. All essays must be submitted to pass the class.

ATTENDANCE POLICY 
Regular attendance is required to pass this course. Students receive no credit for process work due on dates when they are absent. When you are absent, you still are responsible for what is covered in your absence. Absences may result in a lowered class grade, and more than six absences may result in a withdrawal from the course without warning. Please do not be late or leave early.

Students who are disruptive in class will be asked to leave for the day. A student who is asked to leave is counted as absent for the day.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
In order to withdraw from the course, a student must initiate a withdrawal request with the instructor. Students who withdraw will earn a grade of "W," which does not affect the GPA. For a more comprehensive understanding of the college’s withdrawal policy, see the IVCC catalog. The final withdrawal date for students is April 8.
Financial Aid Statement: Withdrawal from a course can affect financial aid. Students who receive financial aid should see an advisor in the financial aid office before withdrawing from a course.

DOCUMENTATION, PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
Much of the work you complete this semester will include borrowing from and documenting primary and secondary sources. We will spend time as a class discussing using and documenting sources. Documentation, that is, giving full credit to a source, is an absolute requirement. Failure to do so is plagiarism; plagiarism can destroy your credibility as a writer and is grounds for failing the assignment. In severe cases, plagiarism can result in failure of the course. The IVCC Student Handbook, section V of Student Rights and Responsibilities, defines plagiarism as, “using the words or ideas of another as one’s own either on purpose or unintentionally. This includes, but is not limited to, copying whole, portions, or the paraphrasing (rewording) of passages or information from any source in any academic exercise (written or oral) without giving credit to the author or source using an appropriate citation style. Students must be able to prove that their work is their own.” 

EXTRA CREDIT
Extra credit is available by attending any Arts and Letters event or Honors Colloquium and writing a two-page response to that event. The response should not be a summary of what was said or what transpired. Instead, it should be a reflection on how the event impacted the student author who attended. Extra credit also may be earned by writing for IVCC's student newspaper, IV Leader, or literary magazine, River Currents.. Other extra credit opportunities may be announced throughout the semester. Extra credit points will be added to the Miscellaneous Work grade. They will not replace essay grades. Students may complete up to six extra credit assignments per semester.

DISABILITY STATEMENT
You may be eligible for academic accommodations if you have a physical, psychiatric or cognitive disability. If you have a disability and need more information regarding possible accommodations, please contact Tina Hardy at 224-0284, Jim Prendergast at 224-0350 or stop by office B-204.

OTHER EXPECTED STUDENT BEHAVIORS

Respect others. Students will respect each other’s personal beliefs and be committed to helping each other learn about the texts and themselves. Students also are expected to help other students in improving their writing abilities through one-on-one and group activities. Students who fail to show other students or the instructor respect will receive a warning or may be asked to leave the class. A second infraction may result in withdrawal from the class.

Seek extra help if needed. Students may take advantage of the services of an English tutor. Additional help also can be secured in the Writing Center , located in D-201. Make appointments to visit the instructor during office hours or at other times if the office hours are not convenient for your schedule.

Read and understand this course outline. The course outline serves as a contract between the instructor and the student. Students who enroll in the course should understand and be ready to comply with the policies listed in the outline.

Tentative Course Schedule
LIT 2010 – Spring 2008

Pages of reading selections will be announced. Additional readings will be announced.

Unit 1 Authors and Assignments